Will County Gazette

Price gouging complaints concerning products that are in demand because of the coronavirus crisis are coming in from all corners of the state. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul warned businesses that scams, utility shut-offs and price gouging would not be tolerated.

“At a time when my office could be assisting people who are concerned about how the COVID-19 pandemic will impact their mortgage, rent and student loan debt payments, my office is devoting significant resources to investigating individuals who are attempting to benefit from the public health crisis by putting profits before people,” Raoul told the Southern.com.

Raoul said that many of the complaints concern products such as face masks, disinfectant, cleaning sprays, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes.

Raoul joined 32 attorneys general from around the country calling on Amazon, Walmart, Facebook, eBay and Craigslist to “rigorously monitor price gouging practices online by sellers using their services.” The companies agreed. However, the coalition says that more needs to be done. They want more monitoring of third-party sellers. 

The Joliet Police Department is also complaining about having to devote too much manpower to investigating price-gouging complaints. The complaints mainly concern sanitizers and cleaning products, a spokesman told Patch.

Raoul’s office said that consumers should also file an online complaint if they are subject to utility disconnections or disrupted service while the COVID-19 disaster is ongoing.

The Illinois Commerce Commission prohibited all public utilities from disconnecting service until the state of emergency is lifted.

“Being shut off from utility service is the last thing people should worry about as they work remotely, care for vulnerable populations, or self-quarantine,” Raoul said in a press release.

The ICC’s emergency order does not apply to municipally-owned utilities and co-ops. 

 Complaints can be registered online by clicking on the "Report COVID-19 Price Gouging and Fraud link.